Language family unclassified | Extinct (date missing) ISO 639-3 None (mis) | |
Glottolog tara1303 (Tarairiu)jeni1237 (Jenipapo-Kaninde) | ||
Tarairiú AKA Caratiú is an extinct and very poorly known language of eastern Brazil. The Tarairiu nation was divided into several tribes: the Jandoino, Kanindé, Paiaku (Pajacú, Bajacú), Jenipapo, Jenipabuçu, Javó, Kamaçu, Tukuriju, Arariu, and "Xukuru" / Xacó.
The language is attested only through a few word lists. A few words resemble those of neighboring Kariri (and other Macro-Je) and Xukuru languages, but not enough to support a genealogical connection. Kaufman (1994) reports that "not even Greenberg dares classify this language".
Some of the recorded words:
Resemblances with Macro-Je languages are in kebra 'stone' (Proto-Je *kɛn), kreká 'head' (*krã), koreké 'hand' (*-ĩkra), and poyá 'foot' (*par). Resemblances with Xukuru are kiro- 'fire' (Xukuru kiyo), kringó 'eat' (kringgo 'feed'), sok 'house' (šekh).